IrishRugby.ie heard the views of defence coach Shaun Edwards and backs coach Rob Howley at Wednesday's announcement in Dublin of the 2009 British & Irish Lions coaching staff. Read on for links to our interviews with the pair.

Current London Wasps coach Shaun Edwards, who worked closely with Warren Gatland at Wasps, will link up with Gatland again as defence coach for the 2009 British & Irish Lions.

Edwards joined the Welsh Rugby Union as assistant coach (defence) in January of this year.

Edwards won 36 caps for the Great Britain rugby league side, scoring 16 tries and he played in the 1992 and 1995 World Cups with England.

He has also played professionally for Balmain Tigers in Australia, and both the London Broncos and Bradford Bulls.

In his interview, Edwards talks about fulfilling his long-time goal of being part of a British & Irish Lions management team.

The newly-appointed Lions defence coach discusses combining his role as Wasps supremo, working alongside Ian McGeechan, the effort that will go into preparing and bonding the touring squad and the approach to taking on the world champions South Africa.

Welshman Rob Howley has been confirmed as the backs coach for the 2009 British & Irish Lions squad.

The former international scrum half won 59 caps for Wales, scoring 10 tries.

He captained his country to 15 wins in 22 matches, including a run of 10 successive victories in 1999 and Wales' only win against South Africa in 22 Tests between the countries.

He twice toured with the British & Irish Lions. Injury wrecked his dreams on the 1997 tour to South Africa after only five matches, while he played in the first two Tests in Australia in 2001 before injury once again took its toll.

Howley played for Bridgend, Cardiff and London Wasps, helping Wasps to win the Heineken Cup and the Premiership titles.

He is one of only eight Welsh players to have won a Heineken Cup winner's medal.

The countdown is on to the Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23. Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens & Women's Rugby, previews what promises to be an exciting couple of days.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Jenny Murphy talks about the progress made by the Ireland Women's Sevens team and their pool draw for the upcoming Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Conor Murray and Tommy Bowe speak to Irish Rugby TV about their Rugby World Cup preparations and thank the thousands of supporters who came out to see the players at the open training session at the Sportsground.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell gives his verdict on the team's new Rugby World Cup jersey and talks about his move to French club Toulon. Ireland's RWC 2015 range is available to pre-order now from http://shop.irishrugby.ie.

Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, talks about the target of a top three finish for both the Ireland Men and Women in Lisbon this weekend, as they continue on their quests for Olympic qualification.

Tom Daly, who recently captained the Ireland Men's Sevens team to the European Division C and B titles, is looking forward to playing in this weekend's Rugby Europe Olympic Repechage tournament in Lisbon, Portugal.

Ireland will host the 'Women's Sevens Dublin' at UCD on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23. Tournament director Garrett Tubridy and Ireland stars Lucy Mulhall, Jenny Murphy and Louise Galvin speak about their excitement ahead of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series qualifier.

Coach Allen Clarke and stand-in captain Billy Holland answer questions from the media following Emerging Ireland's 45-12 victory over Georgia in the final round of their successful Tbilisi Cup campaign.

Emerging Ireland coach Allen Clarke speaks about his side's five-try 33-7 win over Uruguay in the Tbilisi Cup and the first half injury to captain Rhys Ruddock. They wrap up the tournament against hosts Georgia on Sunday.

Speaking about the floods that occurred following the Tbilisi Cup's first round, Emerging Ireland team manager Joey Miles said: "A natural event like that, a tragedy like that puts the game of rugby into perspective. We express our regrets to the Georgian people and the Georgian Union for the terrible tragedy that they had."

David O'Reilly from the IRFU Charitable Trust's Corporate Patrons Committee speaks about the new scheme which provides businesses with unique networking opportunities and provides a platform for companies to effectively activate their CSR programmes. For further information, please contact Linda Black of the Charitable Trust - telephone (01) 6473866 or email: linda.black@irfu.ie / http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/34728.php.